You can vote by absentee ballot today

Tampa, Florida -- If you want to avoid the lines on Tuesday or maybe something came up and you won't be able tomake it to your precinct, you still have the opportunity to cast your vote today.

It's voting early, but not technically 'early voting'.

Voters in most Tampa Bayarea countiescan head to their county election office today and request their absentee ballot (also known as avote by mail ballot) during office hours, fill it out and turn it in. The offices close at 5 p.m..

Absentee ballots must be in the hands of the election office by 7 p.m. on Election Day or your vote will not be counted. Absentee ballots must also be turned into the Supervisor of Elections Office, not at the precinct.

Don't forget...You will be required to provide your photo signature ID when requesting your absentee ballot. Immediate family members may also request an absentee ballot for their loved ones if they have written and signed not authorizing the pick up.

Former Florida Governor and former Republican Charlie Crist met with reporters at the County Center elections office in downtown Tampa to encourage voters to take advantage of the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot.

Hillsborough County already planned to distribute and accept absentee ballots on Sunday and Monday before a lawsuit was filed by Democrats on Sunday demanding expanded early voting hours.

Governor Rick Scott denied a request to extend early voting after reports of long waits in other counties.

"It's unconscionable to me that our Governor would not sing an extension. I did that four years ago to make it easier for people to cast their ballot," said the Crist.

He later added, "It seems to me if you value that democracy and that precious right, you would do everything to encourage people to vote and it seems suppressive not to do so and I just don't understand why someone wouldn't want to extend it."